The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-20
the TORRANCE PRECINCT.
A SECTION ABOUNDING IN VAL.
UABLE NATURAL RESOURCES.
Conditions Before and After the
kest .War-lts Attractions for
- Immigrants.
loons,srorprro, o, RI, Arr.AL.l

visor's d strict No. 4, in the southeast
corner Of Yslobushs county, and EN-
braces an area of land consisting Of
thirty-seven sections, or 23,6S0 acres.
About one.hslf the land in this pre-
cinct is perfectly level and Its soil
black, sandy loan, varying in depth
from one to four feet, its fertility being
unequaled save in the Mississippi
Valley. 1t is well timbered with the
various species Of eak, hickory, ash,
elm, white and red gum, the latter
destir ed at some day in the near future
to be,t me one Of the main timbers in
commerce, as 1t Is susceptible Of the
highest polish al d is now used in the
manufacture oi furniture, in building
care, and for various other purposes
where nicely polished material lie de-
manded. Across the Loosa Scoova
river aud near the village Of Torrance
stands n int xhaustible suppy OF
FINE PINE TIMBER.
ard in the heart OF this forest are tev-
eral stem s,wsmills, which convert
the stat, ly pines into lumber Of all d.
mepsiops and OF the beet quality,
Okochicksma and Perry creeks both
mesnder through the entire precinct,
the former empiyir 9 into Turkey creek
and IL o lat er into Scoona river. The
land on each Of these creeks is az fer
tile as the valley Of the Nile, aud tine
finest short staple cotton that grows in
the world, go said by New Orleans
merct ants, is grown thereon. The
hills in the precinct are also very pro.
ductive for q few years, but, as the soil
is s:Ddy and loose, II is soon washed
away by heavy rains and deposited in
the valleys below. These hills are
we'll timbered with oak, hickory and
chestnut, which are the home OF In.
Vulnerable squirrels and birds. The
land Is especially adapted to growing
fruit, and on II are several OF the finest
peach orchards 10 be found In the
State. Owing TO its peculiar
formation the tree sre protected from
frost and cold, and while peaches and
other fruits are killed in the valleys
and In more southern latitudes, these
hills have foil crops, provided the
orchard is Get out with good judgment
and attended with proper care. Thess
hill lands afford
ABUNDANT PAsTURAor
for cattle, sheep nnd goats durins
eight months OF each year, and besides
the production Of cot on, corn, ost,
and fruit,grows TO perfection all kinds
OF vegetables and melons, and Is no
surpassed by any country In the pro
duction Of sweet potatoes.
ABUNDANT WATER
= The purest and coolest spring
abound in the precinct. The climat,
10 mild, the air pure, aud no loca
causes for malaria exist. II Is stated
by Bishop Hugh Thompson, who hai
taken the trouble to investigate THU
subject, that according 10 statistical
reports Of diseases and their fata ity
the country through this portion 9th,
State is healthier than any other In tn,
United States. This statement will
no doubt, surprise q great many VIII,
have heard OF Mississippi as being {
big gravey ard, and even tome Of on
own citizens, whose imsginatiors or,
quite vivid, will be surprised an,
somewhat skep,ical though the fact
are supported by figures and staiisties
evidence. Several hundred acres II
this prescinot are still vacant, belong
ing 20 the United States and tubjec
10 the homestead entry. The Illinol
Central railroad divides the easterr
portion OF the precinct, which is com
posed OF level land, into two equs
parts. and the western portion, whicl
comprises the hill and valley landi
extends TO within three miles Of tn
Mississippi and Tennessee railroad 9
the northern boundary and 10 With
one mile at the &C uthern line. 30
can be resdily seen that the lorraine
precinct stf0fds, not only rich an
fertile lands suitable for every produl
ton, but 10 ALEC 20
CONVENIENTLY tIIUATED
for railroad transportation that ever
thing grown and not disposed OF !
home finds quick and ready tTan,i
10 other markets, both North an
South. We may safely say that thr,
iouiths OF the land in this precinct
20 level tnd 90 clear Of obstruction
that all the improved implements an
machinery OF modern Ingenuity ca
be easily and successfully used
the preparation and cultivation Of 4
soil; Joe, 20 mncb 20 A. In the pfair
lands Of Illintis and Texs. II ms
be asked: "As the land In this pr
cinct Ia 30 productive, 20 btautifu
and POSSESSES 10 many advantage
Why is Il that the people are not moi
prosperous, and why 10 land I
cheap7' The answer 10 that naturi
inquiry IL this: Ia ante bellum da!
this precinct was owned by wealth
citlEens, who belor ged 10 that ~ fine
noble and chivarous old race OF lGdil
and gentlemen, who could trace
their veins the finest and best blood
the Epglieh and French nobility. a.
whose ancestors being perst cuted
tyfants Ia their own country, fled
the unsettled and unciviliEed thor
OF America, landing In Virginia NJ
the .Carolinas. These people, at
landing In America, by their intel
gtnce and inc uttIy accumulated lar
fortunes, and on raising sons Al
daughters sent them 10 Mississippi
open up and civilize the COUNT
Many ofthese families settled lin III
Torrance prscini, and were. ~; -. -
III THr yIsr.ro oPKs .
and prepare IL land for cultivate
Each family purck ased from one
two thousand acres, and, osni
slaves, soon cleared the land. Ia
crop, ss II was made, was invested
more elayee, aud NJ the increase
labor neoe,siiaed more land seve
thoufand acres were sgAin purcha
and opened. As the citif ne owned
labor II was found 10 be cheaper
clear new and fresh land than 10
tilise the old, and thus large ira
we're discarded on becoming old a
worn ont. Thus II continued irom II
10 1880, In which time the citir
had accumulated large fortunes, @
Esting principally Ia slaves who "
mora valnabla Than all their OF